LUCERNE GROWING.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1917, Page 4

LUCERNE GROWING.

AN IMPRESSIVE DEMONSTRATION. (Christchurch Press.) 1 Though lucerne lias been cultivated as a forage plant for over 2000 years, it is only within the past six years or so that its merits have been brought prominently before the farmers of Canterbury, and the credit, or the greater portion of it, must be given to Air A. Macpherson, the Fields Supervisor for the South Island. He has demonstrated, in the most practical fashion, the possibility of growing lucerne on practically any class of ground, and the farmer who. in the face of the evidence which has been brought forward, still refuses to give ibis valuable forage plant a trial, can only be described as being 2000 years behind the times. On Friday a party consisting of Messrs A. Macpherson, TV. T. Robinson, R. Tod hunter, C. H. Hewlett, O. B. Pemberton, and A. A. Wheeler, of ltotomanu, were taken round to visit several of the plots of lucerne already being grown with success, most of. them at the instigation of the Fields Supervisor, and the visitors were considerably impressed, not only with > the possibilities of the crop, but with the success with which it has been cultivated in most instances. First i of all a visit was paid to Te Oranga. • where a plot of lucerne lias been - grown on what is apparently almost ; pure sand. This was sown in the 1911-12 season about tlrree inches

deep, the sand having been inoculated with soil at the rate of 1001 b per acre, and limed with burnt lime. A. nor-wester blew a great deal of the seed and surface sand away, but a very fair stand lias resulted, and the plants look exceedingly healthy. Round about the Dallington district there are several small paddocks of lucerne growing well, and at Bromley, also tlio crop is being cultivated successfully. Mr E. .lennisen planted about a couple of acres in October, 19i (i. and since then lie lias bad (.» cuts off it, which represents a growth of about 121, feet of crop. The lucerne was drilled 24 inches apart, and no manure has been applied of any kind. At the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Sumner the Director, Mr J. E. Stevens, cannot say too much in praise of lucerne. Ho liar, followed out Air Macpherson\s instructions impicitly, and the result has beey excellent. The main crop was sown in 191.3, and last’season 8 ents, averaging 30 inches to a cut, was taken off it. In the two dry seasons just past the lucerne proved to be the saving of the cows at the Institute, and for close upon five months the 7 cows were fed. on the lucerne grown on a little under half an acre of land, without any other food at all. Needless to sav, with this experience to guide him, Air Stevens has now a larger area in, and from a crop sown in March, 191(5, he has taken off six good‘cuts. Air Stevens thinks that autumn sowing is better than spring, aiid the motto of the man who wishes to grow it successfully should be: “A little at a time and watch it well.” Across the road from the Institute, on Air Aliddleton’s farm, (hero is a very promising field of lucerne growing that will be a valuable asset this season.

Prom Sunnier, Air Afacpherson took the part:/ to flic Agricultural Department’s Depot near Moorhouse avenue, and there he showed them samples of lucerne grown on the poor, light country known as the Waimak. Flats, west of West Eyreton. To one who knows this class of country, the results obtained will seem remarkable, but Arr Afacpherson declares fluff; lucerne can bo grown successfully anywhere, except possibly on land which has n, water-logged subsoil. To show the permanency of the crop, Air Macpherson took the party to a small farm owned by Air Gott, opposite the Alental Hospital. Here there is a, plot, still flourishing, which was sown twenty-live years ago. It is considered that this plot should furnish some excellent stock seed, as it has been sufficiently long growing to become thoroughly acclimatised. After a brief glance at the fine paddocks of lucerne at the Alental Hospital—one of the few places to realise the valu7,of it years ago —the party drove out to the Prison farm, near Templeton, where sixteen acres have been put in. Part of this was sown in November, 19IG, ami part in January, and, but for the vagaries of the Canterbury tfbv’-wostors this would have been a splendid success, and the paddock a picture. As it is, about ten or eleven acies are first rate, but a light sandy patch, almost in the centre of the field, has been badly blown, and will need re-sowing. On a farm a mile or so on the Christchurch side of Templeton, there are four or five acres of a very promising looking crop. It is well grown, and looks extraordinarily healthy. A strip which has been broadcasted instead of drilled, seemed to be more or less of a failure, and from Air Alacpher,son’s experience he strongly recommends drilling, so that adequate cultivation can be given and the weeds kept down. The bugbear of labour need not worry the farmer, for it is said that eighteen hours’ actual workingtime was all that was put in on the four acres above mentioned for the purpose of weeding and cultivating.